Chrysanthemum frutescens plant named Camilla Ponticelli

ABSTRACT

A new and unique cultivar of Chrysanthemum frutescens named `Camilla Ponticelli` having white flower color with a gold-yellow disc, compact growth habit, dense branching, early natural season flowering, and the ability to be cultivated as a greenhouse or outdoor cultivar.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema frutescens,commercially known by the designation "daisy", and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name `Camilla Ponticelli`.

`Camilla Ponticelli` was originated by the inventor Noli Giacomo in acontrolled breeding program in Sanremo, Italy in 1983. The new cultivarwas produced from a self-pollination of the vegetatively propagatedparent cultivar `Italia`.

`Camilla Ponticelli` was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated self-pollination by the inventor in1983 in a controlled environment in Sanremo, Italy.

The first act of asexual reproduction of `Camilla Ponticelli` wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in 1984 in a controlled environment in Sanremo, Italy by theinventor. Although viable seeds are produced, asexual propagation is thepreferred form of propagation.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated followingpropagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for `Camilla Ponticelli` are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length,without, however, any variation in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Sanremo, Italyunder greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of `Camilla Ponticelli`, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. A daisy pot capable of production under greenhouse of outdoorculture.

2. Compact growth habit, with numerous lateral shoots being formed whichresult in dense branching.

3. White ray floret color with golden yellow disc.

4. Grey-green foliage color.

5. Early natural season flowering in Sanremo, flowering in spring andthrough the summer.

The new cultivar is similar in several phenotypic respects to itsparent, with the principal distinguishing features being thesignificantly more compact growth habit of `Camilla Ponticelli`, and itsgrey-green foliage, with `Italia` having foliage which is more"spinach-green" in color. The new cultivar produces many more lateralshoots which result in dense branching. In addition, `CamillaPonticelli` flowers more uniformly and abundantly than its parent, andflowers through the spring and summer. A more detailed comparison of thecharacteristics of `Camilla Ponticelli` and `Italia` are shown in ChartA appearing at the end of the specification.

To the inventor's best knowledge, `Camilla Ponticelli` is the firstvariety of Chrysanthemum frutescens in Europe to be specifically andpurposely selected for the pot growing industry. All other knownvarieties are cut flower varieties, and only temporarily pot grown.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows in front perspective viewtypical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of `Camilla Ponticelli`,with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations ofthis type.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were taken atSanremo, Italy.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema Futescens cv `Camilla Ponticelli`.

Commercial.--Daisy pot mum (greenhouse and outdoor culture).

INFLORESCENCE

Form: Conical.

Type: Single.

Flower head: Single type. Very small diameter (less than 4 cm). Numberof rows of involucral bracts are five or fewer. Involucre diametersmall, (less than 1.5 cm). Flower has no odor. Flowers in Sanremo,Italy, in early to middle March.

Ray florets: Longitudinal axis of majority of ray florets are reflexing;short corolla tube, convex cross-section, keels two in number; outerfloret narrow in width (3-6 mm) and short in length (1-2 cm); tiprounded; outer side of majority of ray florets (when the bloom isopening) 155D; color of inner side of florets when faded (in full bloom)155B; no color rimming; ray florets low in number (less than 20). Upwardattitude of outer floret.

Disc: Tubular type; diameter medium (1-2 cm); color before antherdehiscence 153C; length, inclusive of ovary and ripe anthers, is medium;disc color 13B. Few disc florets, (less than 200).

Receptacle: Small in diameter; raised dome.

PLANT

Height: Short (30-50 cm).

Growth habit: Broad.

Stem: Anthocyanin present; color 139D; thick diameter (greater than 9mm); pubescence absent; medium number of primary lateral shoots (lessthan 10); short internode length (less than 2 cm); phyllotaxis 2/5.

Peduncle: Relatively thin; peduncle of terminal flower head is long.

Leaf: Narrow in width (less than 5 cm), medium depth of incision B/A(0.7-0.9), short in length (less than 10 cm), fleshy texture, leafmargin is partly serrated, course density of incision at leaf margin,base acute between lateral lobes, margins of sinus diverging betweenlateral lobes, base asymmetric, leaf apex cuspidate. Length of petiole,short (less than 3 cm); upward angle between stem and leaf. Leaf coloris greyish-green, although the closest color value is 137B. Leaf has nopubescence.

Spray pots: Pyramidal in form.

Branching: Excellent.

Character: Medium tolerance to cold and heat; High resistance to diseaseand pests.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF `CAMILLA PONTICELLI` AND `ITALIA`                                            `CAMILLA                                                         CHARACTERISTIC                                                                             PONTICELLI`    `ITALIA`                                          ______________________________________                                        Ray Florets                                                                   Color        white with yellow disc                                                                       white with yellow                                                             disc                                              Length       1-2 cm         2-3 cm                                            (outer                                                                        floret)                                                                       Number       fewer than 20  20-22                                             Attitude     upward         horizontal                                        (outer floret)                                                                Total Flower less than 4 cm 4-6 cm                                            Diameter                                                                      Flowering    spring and summer                                                                            fall and winter                                   Plant                                                                         Height       short, 30-50 cm                                                                              tall, 70-90 cm                                    Growth habit compact        medium                                            Number of primary                                                                          5-10           less than 5                                       lateral shoots                                                                Internode length                                                                           less than 2 cm 2-4 cm                                            Leaf                                                                          length       less than 10 cm                                                                              10-15 cm                                          width        less than 5 cm 5-10 cm                                           color        grey-green     spinach green                                     attitude with stem                                                                         upward         horizontal                                        spray pot culture                                                                          yes            no                                                Comparisons based on plant material grown at Sanremo, Italy.                  ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum frutescensplant named `Camilla Ponticelli`, as described and illustrated.